Welcome back! 

Deniz Baris Gölgelioglu is celebrating his return to the SITM Chair.

Welcome back, Deniz! A lot of us still have recollections of your earlier days with the SITM team. How did it all start back then?

I started as a research assistant at the chair in 2023, and soon after, I became the student coordinator of the IS:link program. This involved organizing and developing the international exchange program for information systems students. The close collaboration with partner universities worldwide and with students who participated in the program was particularly exciting. This experience taught me that great things can be achieved when people take responsibility and implement ideas.

After your first stint at the chair, you moved into the professional world. What did you do there?

I worked in IT consulting, primarily in project and portfolio management. There, I collaborated on further developing an adaptive project management approach to support small and medium-sized enterprises in implementing digital transformation projects. The close connection between methodological work, technological issues, and organizational development was particularly exciting – an experience that strongly shaped my view of IT management.

What brought you back to academia?

Above all, the joy of research. I wanted to work more intensively on topics that allow me to contribute my ideas and delve deeper into science. At the same time, I appreciate that theory and practice are closely linked in our department. I will also teach and supervise students on various topics related to information systems. Currently, my research is set to focus on smart cities, specifically how data-driven technologies can transform urban structures, administrative processes, and city life.

What will your role in the IS:link network be in the future?

I look forward to taking on a more expanded role in coordinating the program in the near future. Previously, I focused more on organization and student support. Now, I will take on more strategic tasks, such as collaborating with partner universities, committees, and projects. The goal is to integrate IS:link more closely with research and teaching as an international exchange platform and further develop global collaborations.

What motivates you about your new role?

The combination of research, teaching, and international exchange. I can contribute my own ideas, conduct scientific research, and maintain direct contact with students and partners. That combination is rare. Perhaps that's exactly why I'm so excited about it. I'm thrilled to be back on the chair team once again, where I can continue doing what I'm passionate about in the long term.

Great to have you back, Deniz!